Yellow Ribbon Program

The Post 9/11 GI Bill is an excellent source of financial support for veterans to further their education. The bill also covers housing in addition to tuition expenses. Veterans are eligible to receive benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill if they have at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or those who were discharged with a disability related to their military service after 30 days. The discharge must have been honorable in order for the individual to be eligible for benefits. Eligible individuals can apply benefits to cover:

Q: Hi, First I would like to thank you for making things much clearer. I've enjoyed the clarifications you've given here. And now to my questions:

1) In reading up on Post-9/11 GI Bill, I see an option of using up the old GI Bill and then qualifying for an additional 12 months under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Do you know what will qualify a person for this? I served for over 6 years, separated and went back to school using the old GI Bill. I do have some months left.

Q: I have exhausted my MGIB and I qualify for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, but only for 12 months of benefits. My question is will 12 months of benefits be enough to finish all of my graduate degree? I will be attending a private school which participates in the Yellow Ribbon program. Their cost of tuition and fees is $12,980 a semester for 9 credit hours (full-time). The degree I will be taking requires 33 credit hours to complete.

Q: My home of record is Pennsylvania, but I am looking at going to school in Florida and living there, but not until school starts. Does this wind up counting as out-of-state tuition, and will the GI Bill cover it?

A: It more than likely will count as out-state tuition, unless Florida as a reciprocity agreement with Pennsylvania which is doubtful. Most reciprocity agreements are between bordering states.

Q: I enlisted in 2006 and took the student loan repayment program/option. By summer 2009, the last payment was made to my account. If I go green-to-gold non-scholarship option for Fall 2010, can I use the new GI Bill to help pay for school?

A: Yes you can. Plus you can get paid a $350 per month stipend for up to 10 months a year. On top of that, you get paid to attend the ROTC Advanced Camp between your junior and senior years of college.

Q: My home of record is Pennsylvania, but I am looking at going to school in Florida and living there, but not until school starts. Does this wind up counting as out-of-state tuition, and will the GI Bill cover it?

A: Yes, you will have to pay out-of-state tuition. As far as if the GI bill will cover it or not, both the Montgomery GI Bill and Post 9/11 GI Bill will partially, but each pay differently. Let me explain.